A RAILWAY company has hit out at a Nigel Farage-led political group for using an image of the iconic Jacobite steam train – without permission.

An image of the famous train crossing the Glenfinnan viaduct, popular with thousands of tourists and Harry Potter fans alike, is printed across the cover of a Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) group leaflet.

Headed up by Brexit Party leader Farage, a slogan on the Eurosceptic group's pamphlet reads: "What Scotland Really Thinks About the EU".

The move has upset West Coast Railways, which runs the Jacobite between Fort William and Mallaig in the Highlands, and sparked a pun-heavy response from the firm.

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The leaflet refers to an EFDD poll which "found that the Scottish public remains uncomfortable with the level of interference that the European Union has in Scotland and does not want it to have any more control over Scottish laws than it already does".

The four-page A4 advert was delivered to some Scottish homes last week.

Its text contained no reference to the train or picture, whose use the group justified as "a well-known image of the breadth and beauty of Scotland".

Farage is president of the EFDD, a European Parliament group led by his Brexit Party.

A West Coast Railways spokesman said: "We certainly never gave permission for the Jacobite to be used in support of this campaign.

"I think the EFDD have gone rather off track here. In fact, I'd say they are completely on the wrong lines, and this poster is about to hit the buffers.

"We suspect Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite chums might have taken a claymore to this Sassenach bunch."

The rail firm also sought to distance the train from the group's anti-EU views. Its spokesman added: "Have these people gone loco?

"Of course, it is very flattering that they consider the Jacobite such an instantly recognisable, well-loved symbol of all that is good about Scotland. We would certainly agree with them over that.

"Our train is indeed as Scottish as bagpipes, haggis or a very fine malt whisky. But the Jacobite certainly has no intention of steaming out of Europe - it only ever runs, twice a day, between Fort William and Mallaig.

"And we certainly don't say 'No' to the euro. If that's the currency passengers want to use to buy their tickets, then that is absolutely fine with us."

The Friends of the West Highland Line were equally bemused. Chairman Doug Carmichael said: "It's a somewhat strange choice of picture for this political message.

"But the fact the Glenfinnan viaduct has been chosen shows the importance and attraction of the line and the ever-romantic scene of steam trains."

The EFDD group said it was time to "step off the EU train".

Spokesman Hermann Kelly said: "I'm a bit of a Jacobite myself, who spent six years in Scotland, enjoying my time in the beautiful Highlands, even having time to play a bit of shinty after having learned my skills playing hurling in Ireland as a fellow Gael.

"And fair play to the West Coast Railways spokesman who packed plenty of puns into his statement.

"As a fellow communication professional I am 'steaming loco' myself to leave the EU train, which is heading towards the destination of a centralised EU state which has complete political and economic control over the people of Scotland.

"Let's step off the EU train, and enjoy the fresh air and rich history of the bounteous landscape inhabited by the Scottish people instead."